Spacer or separator for eggs



S. ELLIS.

SPACER 0R SEPARATOR FOR EGGS. APPLICATION man AUG. 8, 1919 1,334,603. Patented Mar'.23,1920.

\ a ZZZ STUART ELLIS, OF FREDERIGKSBUBG, "VIRGINIA.

SJPACEROR SEPARATOR FOR EGGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1 920.

Application filed. August 8, 1919. Serial No. 316,087.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STUART ELLIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fred ericksburg, in the county of Spottsylvania and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spacers or Separators for Eggs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to separators or spacers for breakableobjects, such as eggs, when shipped in a box or crate; and the object is to provide a novel and improved form of separator which will hold the eggs out of contact with each other and with the box, whereby they may be safely transport ed, without breakage and consequent loss.

While the device of my invention is in tended more particularly for use with pareel-post egg-boxes for shipment of eggs direct from producer to consumer, it is evident that it is not restricted to such use.

With this object in view, and others appearing as the specification proceeds, the invention resides, generally stated, in a cardboard separator sinuously bent longitudinally to providea succession of egg-cells, and metallic strips secured to the top and bottom of each row of egg-cells and extending longitudinally of said row, and being provided with interlocking portions to prevent movement of one side of said row of cells relative to the other side thereof, and being provided, also, with offset portions adapted to bear either against the adjacent vertical walls of the shippingbox in con nection with which the separators are used, or against corresponding offset portions of the next adjacent row of egg-cells.

The invention is graphically illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses a concrete embodiment of the underlying principles of the invention. Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Briefly described:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my spacers or separators disposed in a box, the lid of which is broken away to disclose the spacers;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective detail view of the spacer of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the locking joint between the two sides of the spacer;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of one and of th pa r;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the other end of the spacer; and

Fig. 6*is a fragmentarysectional view of the offset portion of the spacer, showing more particularly the metallic strip along the edge of the spacer.

Referring, now, in detail, to the draw mg:

1 designates a shipping-box provided with a cover Qhinged at 3, 3 thereto. The box may be of the type forming the subjectmatter ofmy United States Patent No. 1,247,517, dated Nov. 20, 1917, or of any other form, and constitutes no part ofthe invention.

Each separator or spacer of my invention is preferably formedfrom a single sheet of cardboard 4 transversely bent at its longitudinal center to form two parallel sides, which are sinuously bent to provide the complemental sections of egg-pockets or cells5. The sharp transverse bends 6 are received, in cooperating locking bends 7 formed by crimping the opposite side of the spacer in line with the bends 6, as shown, to

present V-shaped sockets in which the bends 6 rest. In this manner, as is obvious, longitudinal movement of one side of the spacer relative to the other side is prevented.

For holding the spacer in proper position to maintain the integrity of the egg-cells suitable means are provided, which also are constructed to serve the additional function of offsetting the walls of the spacers from each other and from the vertical walls of the box. To this end, metallic strips 8 are bent or doubled over the top and bottom of said cardboard spacers and into forcible.

frictional engagement therewith, so as to be held firmly thereon against accidental removal. The metallic'strips retain the cardboard cells in proper bent position.

Preferably, one metallic strip 8 is used at the top and another at the bottom of each row of egg-cells.

Each of the metallic strips is bent outward, as shown at 9, at a plurality of points along the sides of a row of egg-cells 5, so as to provide ofiset portions adapted to contact with the box, or with the corresponding offset portions of the next ad jacent row of cells, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

The free ends of each metallic strip, at one end of each row of eggecells 5, are also bent outward and against each other,

. prising as shown at 10, 10, so as to form a projection adapted to bear against the adjacent vertical wall of the box 1; and, at the opposite end of each row of cells, the metal strip is bent or crimped outward, as shown at 11, to form another projection adapted to bear against the adjacent vertical wall of the box -1.

In use, it will be noticed that the portions. of the egg-cells in contact with the eggs are spaced from the vertical cells of the box and from the corresponding portions of the next row of egg-cells, so that theeggs are protected against breakage.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. A spacer or separator for eggs, comprising a flexible member bent to form a succession of cells for the eggs, and metallic strips secured to the top and bottom of said member and provided with interlocking portions preventinglongitudinal movement of one side of said separator relative to the other side thereof.

2. A spacer or separator for eggs, coma flexible member bent to form a succession of cells for the eggs, and metallic strips secured 'to the top and bottom of said .member and provided with ofiset portions, and. with interlocking portions preventing longitudinal movement of one side of said separator relative to the other side thereof. A

3. A spacer orseparator for eggs comprising a. flexible member bent to form a succession of cells for the eggs, and metallic strips secured to the top and bottom of said member, one side of said row of cells being provided with transverse bends, and the other side of said row of cells being provided with cooperating transverse bent portions forming V-shaped recesses in which the firstmentioned bends are disposed.

4. A spacer or separator for eggs comprising a flexible member bent to form a succession of cells for the eggs, a metallic strip secured to the top and another metallic strip secured to the bottom of the row of cells, the free ends of said strips being dis osed at the end of said row of cells and sing outwardly bent to form projections.

5. A spacer or separator for eggs comprising a flexible member bent to form a succession of cells for the eggs, a metallic strip secured to the top and another metallic strip secured to the bottom of the row of cells, the free ends of said strips being disposed at one end of said row of cells and being bent outwardly to form projections, and each strip being outwardly bent at the opposite end of said row of cells to form projections.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

STUART ELLIS. lVitnesses G. G. GOULDMAN, Rocnn E. CLARKE. 

